The Scottish heritage (Part I)

Since arriving here in Scotland, plenty of places have been discovered through my 5 senses. So far, Glasgow, Stirling, Edinburgh, Loch Ness, Loch Lochy, Glencoe and Loch Lomond have been explored with traveling mileage reaching 600km conquering part of the east, north and centre Scotland. Although Scotland's weather has been extreme and unpredictable, we thank God that during our planned trips, the weather seems to be friendly to us. Since I'm a nature and historical enthusiast, my main focus is on the nostalgic, historical and nature theme.

The National William Wallace Monument is still standing strongly, reminds me of the Battle of Stirling in which the mighty English cavaliers, footmen, spearmen and archers were humiliated by Wallace and the hungry Scottish seeking for the freedom of Scotland.

Wallace sword

National William Wallace Monument

The Falkirk Wheel is another magnificent masterpiece of modern engineering that connects two ancient canals built on different level, which used to serve Scottish in ancient days.

Falkirk Wheel in Stirling

The ancient buildings along Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle bring my imagination further back to medieval time, where citizens chanted on the name of the ruler as he passed by the Royal Mile.

along Royal Mile

in front of Edinburgh Castle

Scotland is blessed with the large lakes known as Loch surrounded by beautiful view of mountain ranges and pine forests.

part of Loch Ness, where the myth of Nessie stays until today

Urquhart Castle overseeing Loch Ness

Loch Lochy

Loch Lomond

even the geese also were relaxing like us

Of course, not forgetting the first experience showered by snow flakes, and playing with snowballs. Its amazing and awesome.

A weekend in Glasgow

It was a gloomy Saturday morning, I’m so eager to pay a visit in Glasgow for the first time. So, together with Rudy and Samson, we drove to the city of Glasgow in the morning. Weather is gloomy and it’s expected to rain as forecasted on TV. In UK, weather forecast is very precise but we didn’t care so much.

We parked our Picasso in Partick, in the suburb of Glasgow. Then I found this little signboard which caught my attention.

We walked from Partick to the University of Glasgow which took us 15 minutes. This university has been around for a few hundred years but its magnificent building architecture is still standing solidly as it is. The following casts consist of Samson the "skinny scatman", Gideon the "Chubby jackass" and Rudy the "Big Chef".

Weather turn out to be the main obstacle of the day. After strolling around the university, we were pinched by rain which went on for the whole day. But the walk has to continue. But I was lucky wearing the right jacket, which is made of water resistant material. So we stopped at a “eat all you can” Chinese buffet restaurant, to re-energize our body. At £6.49, we had our stomach filled with buffet from Asian cuisine including Malaysian food.

After that, we braved ourselves in the rain to some of the lively lanes in Glasgow, somewhere like Bukit Bintang where most shops are offering major price slashing on their items. I didn’t hesitate to buy for myself a pair of hiking shoes at a modest price of £21.

We came to know a grocery shop owned by a Malaysian guy, who has been a UK citizen now. There we got a lot of Malaysian products from spices to sauces. Although I didn’t manage to utilize my camera due to the bad weather, it was a fruitful day.

Its eating time

It’s been a few days now, and the feeling of homesick is thickening in my heart but at least the food that we ate and prepared here in the house kitchen help to restrain the homesick syndrome from my mind.

The following meal was what we ate for dinner tonight, the baked pasta and the salad. Rudy prepared the baked pasta while I prepared the salad. Even my wife or any of my family members or friends has never eaten my salad before.

Rudy with his baked pasta recipe

My salad

Our meal ready for consumption

First experience in Scotland

Getting this job is a new challenge in my life as I step into the new horizon of 2009. On 2nd Jan 2009, I flew all the way from Malaysia to undergo a six months drill in Prestwick, Scotland. I’m not sure what are the challengers lying in my path for now which I’m not going to talk about for now. Well, the flight from KLIA to Glasgow airport was a long one. It took 7 hours 45 min to reach Dubai and another 7 hours 45 min to reach Glasgow. Transit at Dubai was 3 hours but we got no time to discover the airport due to the long queue at immigration check.

at Dubai Int airport

before take off from Dubai

Although the flying hours were long, I never felt bored been accompanied by the ICE in-flight entertainment systems. I get to enjoy more than 100 channels of different movies (from recent release as well) and all the classical, yesteryears and modern music which help to spellbind my mind from the long hours.

ICE in-flight entertainment

And I get to snap some photos from the cabin window on some magnificent views which we can’t find elsewhere in South East Asia. The scenery of the desert to the icy view is so fascinating to see for a first timer like me flying to Europe during winter time.

View on Dubai desert

View on Iraqi mountain

Somewhere in Iran

Somewhere in Turkey

Somewhere in Southern part of Europe

Our flight made its touchdown at Glasgow Int airport at 12.05pm. Upon arrival, I and Rudy were mildly squeezed by the officer at the custom clearance before leaving the airport around 12.30pm local time inside the rented car. For the first time in my life, I experience the winter weather but that day wasn’t that cold. It was 8 degree Celsius at midday. Speaking of daytime, it’s shorter during the winter with sunrise around 8.00am in the morning while sunset is around 4.30pm in the evening.

It took us 45 min from the Glasgow Int airport to this small countryside town in Troon, which forms part of Ayrshire. The house was typically shaped in English style and I was surprised that it has been equipped with all the basic necessities. The house owner is from South Africa and he is so nice that he even provides the SKY (similar to Astro in Malaysia) and the wireless broadband service to reduce the hassle of going to cybercafe. Guess what, connection speed is 8 times faster then our TM streamyx.

Dining area

Kitchen area equipped with hood, gas stove and 2 ovens

Washing machine (left), dish washer (middle) & fridge (right)

SKY satellite TV

Backyard of the house

Washroom

Rudy's bedroom

My bedroom

My big wardrove

The wireless modem cum router

The living room

View from the toilet window on the golf course behind the house

Weather here is not too bad for the time being, I can still bear the lowest temperature of -2 degree Celsius with my excessive fat. There’s no snowfall experience as the area is near the sea. Shopping for grocery is cheap with most items is less than 1 pound. Actually equivalent to our price based on current conversion rate of 1GBP = RM5.10. The best thing is grocery can be purchased at TESCO and MORRISONS which is just a few minutes’ drive from our house.

Our long grocery receipt

For me it’s a good start living in a foreign country. But I really miss out on the Malaysian food, my wife, family and our long sunny, humid and wet weather. I’m still adapting to my new sleeping routine after the long hours of jet lag.

Here I come to begin my journey in Scotland, Malaysia Boleh!!!